BARBS DOLED
Stingray
There are many things that run deep in still waters. In the Pacific, things run even deeper and one is advised when one is spending time in the surf to shuffle their feet as you move across the ocean floor. Adhering to this logic is a purposeful measure against being barbed by a stingray. Rays are not discriminating in the selection of their victims or the destination of their venom. But, the experience is often described as being electrifying, and excruciating. “The stingray’s tail has one or more barbed stingers and 2 ventrolateral venom-containing grooves that are encased in an integumentary sheath. The tail is thrust into the victim, usually in the foot or lower leg, producing a deep jagged laceration from the serrated spine(s). ”
The stinger apparatus then injects a protein-based toxin into the wound, causing immediate intense (even excruciating) pain in the victim. Injury may occur without envenomation because many stingrays lose or tear the integumentary sheath covering the venom glands.
The following interview is with Bolivar from Guiones Beach in Nosara, Costa Rica. It took place an hour after he was ‘barbed’ by a stingray.
The Barbs of a Stingray
MEC Good morning Bolivar, I can see that you are in a bit of discomfort and pain, so this will be brief. To begin with a positive, that last wave that you caught was pretty remarkable, it was amazing. I was wondering what you are feeling right now and if you can detail to us what happened. Also, the chances of this happening are so unbelievably small that it is almost as if you have won the lottery so to speak at this instance.
BOLIVAR Thank you and yes, I was pleased about that last set, as one spends a great deal of time waiting out in the green water and I was very pleased after I caught that wave. When I was getting down from the board, my feet did not touch the ocean floor, but I was near the shoreline where the whitewater stirs the sand. When I started to descend I felt something stab my foot. It was like an electrified x-acto knife. I lifted my foot and the puncture wound was then bleeding profusely. The waters parted and the sea became red. (No, that is not what happened, I am just kidding, but seriously, the pain starts immediately and it went from my foot and shot up to my kneecap and stopped.) Following that, it continued to course up and down my leg. It felt like an electric current moving through that portion of my body. I have never experienced something so painful, and I have a very high tolerance for pain.
I walked out of the water and removed the leash to my surfboard and carried the board back up to the rack that was about 300 meters away. There is nothing really to do for the sting and one just needs to sit through the unpleasant process that starts to become pleasant after a while. The general advice is to soak the wound in very hot water as it dulls the pain, and it also facilitates the extraction or dilution of the venom. Finally, after about two hours the pain should go away. One thing to note, is that the barb can be buried in the wound and should be removed immediately, as it can get infected. Fortunately, I was barb free. But, it is only an hour following the stab, and I only have an hour to go. Just in time for high tide…
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